Intrapreneur, author (CALM, Good Men Project), coach (Gallup Strengths), teacher (Business, Economics), Head of Sixth Form, and Head of Psychology.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

One Hundred Push Ups-second week!

Yikes is what I have to say this week...Yikes!

Perhaps because last week was half-term, and this week just gone I've been back at school - or perhaps because I had a hugely indulgent Saturday eating LOADS...when I set out to do week four, I found it almost impossible! (That's five sets of the following press-ups: 12, 14, 11, 10 and 16 minimum)

I think that the first week had definitely lulled me into a false sense of security.

Day one, I just couldn't do it. I complete the first set really easily, but struggle after that. So, this week, I've repeated day one (my Monday) on day two (my Wednesday). I realised I have to pace myself, and it does say to rest 60 seconds or longer if needed. So I rested 90-120 seconds between each set.

And on Wednesday I managed to complete Day One.

Friday, then I had to do the day two workout, and just managed to do it - with a slightly extended rest-time...(that's five sets of the following press-ups: 14, 16, 12, 12 and 18 minimum).

This meant Sunday had to be Day three.

I'd had a brilliantly productive day, but had also eaten loads and was really full. I was nervous as I set out to do it, but I took heart from the fact I could rest longer between each set...

And you know what? I did it: 16, 18, 13, 13, 20! I rested 150 seconds between the first two sets, rising to 180 seconds before the last one, but I kept it steady, didn't rush and just managed it. Jelly arms afterwards, but I did it!

Yay!

Next was the exhaustion test on Tuesday to determine my starting point for the next week...

I was nervous...but went for it...kept going...and managed to eke out 30...phew...

I was glad to see some progress from my initial 22! I wasn't sure if I was expecting huge improvements.

Checking on the website for the Week five workout, I can see I have to repeat Week 4 (not that I'm that surprised) because the minimum required is 31 consecutive press ups! A bit more strength building for me then!

I'm also going to start doing the workouts every alternate day rather than three times a week because I think I had too much of a rest between my Friday and Monday.